Assessing the Oral hygiene Status and Dental Caries among patients with Cleft Lip and Palate Visiting a Private Dental Hospital in Chennai

Author(s):

Vishnu Prasanna SG, Pradeep Kumar R* and Saravana Dinesh SP

Cleft lip and or palate are the most common congenital craniofacial anomaly that has been found in mankind. Clefts can be caused by a number of factors that affect the expectant mother early in the first trimester of pregnancy. The aim of the study is to evaluate the oral hygiene and dental caries status of patients with cleft lip, palate and alveolus. From the total of 86000 patient case records, who visited a Private Dental Hospital between June 2019 and March 2020, patients with cleft lip and cleft palate were shortlisted. The final sample size was 61 patients. 3% of males, 3% of females had good oral hygiene, 45% of males and 29% of females had fair oral hygiene and 6% of males and 11% of females had poor oral hygiene. 4% of patients in age group 1-6 years and 11% of patients in age group above 6 years had good oral hygiene, 42% of patients in age group 1-6 years and 24% of patients in age group above 6 years had fair oral hygiene and 8% of patients in age group of 1-6 years and 13% of patients in age group above 6 years had poor oral hygiene. Chi square test shows p>0.05, not significant. Males had the highest prevalence of cleft lip, palate and alveolus. The oral hygiene status of the majority of patients was fair, whereas dental caries was reported among only a few of the patients. There was no significant difference between oral hygiene, dental caries status and cleft lip, palate and alveolus patients.